Johnson County, Arkansas Building Permit Guide

Johnson County does not issue building permits. Its 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan, approved by FEMA in August 2025, says “the city of Clarksville is the only city to issue building permits,” though its own capability table also marks Lamar as having building codes and a zoning ordinance. Outside the cities, the county’s role is to assign 911 addresses through the Emergency Communications Center and to manage the floodplain through its Certified Floodplain Manager, who monitors new construction, substantial alterations and changes of use; septic systems are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health.

What Johnson County itself handles

The County Judge runs the county roads and administers the quorum court’s ordinances; the 2026 ordinances posted on the county site are appropriations and fund transfers, with no building, zoning or permit rules. The Road Department maintains all county roads. New 911 addresses anywhere in the county are assigned by the Emergency Communications Center’s GIS/911 Addressing Office in the courthouse basement, on its New 911 Address Request Form; giving the GPS coordinates of the end of the driveway and of the building, and the addresses on either side, speeds up the request.

Who issues building permits in each town

The Census Bureau lists five incorporated places in Johnson County (Vintage 2025 estimates in brackets).

• Clarksville (9,632): City Inspector Cody Graham, 205 Walnut St., Clarksville, AR 72830, 479-754-6486. The inspector covers new and existing residential and commercial construction, and permits are applied for with the city’s online application tool after creating an account. The city page lists the codes its council adopted: the 2012 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, 2017 National Electrical Code, 2010 Arkansas Mechanical Code, 2006 Arkansas Plumbing and Fuel Gas Codes and the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. Anyone getting a new 911 address inside Clarksville must also clear the city’s requirements with the inspector’s office.
• Lamar (1,776): the county’s mitigation plan lists Lamar, with Clarksville, as having adopted building codes, a zoning ordinance and a planning commission, though its narrative names Clarksville as the only city issuing building permits. Ask Lamar City Hall, 437 W. Main St., (479) 885-3865 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), before building.
• Coal Hill (822), Knoxville (662) and Hartman (518): the plan lists no building codes for these towns and says Clarksville is the only city issuing building permits.

The plan lists a floodplain ordinance and floodplain administrator for all five towns, and all five take part in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Floodplain, roads and septic

Floodplain: Johnson County is in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps effective May 16, 2019. The county has a floodplain ordinance and a Certified Floodplain Manager who monitors land use in the floodplain, including new construction, substantial alterations and changes in the use of a building or land; the Department of Emergency Management (479-754-6383) publishes the county’s floodplain and hazard mitigation information.

Roads: the County Judge operates the county road system and the Road Department maintains it; road questions go to the Road Department at 479-754-2401.

Septic systems: on-site wastewater systems are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health, whose Johnson County office is on Professional Park Drive in Clarksville.

How to start a project in Johnson County

Arkansas building code

Arkansas’s building code is the 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, adopted by the State Fire Marshal and in force statewide since 1 January 2023; building permits are issued locally where a city or county runs a permit program, and the plumbing, gas, mechanical, energy and electrical codes are adopted by separate state agencies. The Arkansas codes

Johnson County permitting FAQs

Does Johnson County issue building permits?

No. The county’s 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan says building permits are not issued by Johnson County and names Clarksville as the only city issuing them; the same plan lists Lamar as having building codes, so ask Lamar City Hall about work there.

Who issues building permits in Clarksville?

The City Inspector, Cody Graham, at 205 Walnut St., 479-754-6486. Applications are filed through the city’s online permit tool.

How do I get a new 911 address in Johnson County?

Fill out the New 911 Address Request Form from the GIS/911 Addressing Office in the courthouse basement, or call (479) 774-6111.

Is Johnson County in the flood insurance program?

Yes. The county, Clarksville, Coal Hill, Hartman, Knoxville and Lamar all take part in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Who permits septic systems?

The Arkansas Department of Health; its Johnson County office is at #6 Professional Park Drive, Clarksville, 479-754-2949.

Johnson County construction resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Johnson County Judge
• Johnson County Road Department
• Johnson County 911 addressing and request form
• Johnson County Emergency 9-1-1
• Johnson County Department of Emergency Management, mitigation and floodplain
• 2024 Johnson County Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Johnson County quorum court agendas and ordinances
• Arkansas Department of Health, Johnson County
• City of Clarksville Building Inspector
• 2021 Arkansas Fire Prevention Code rules

Simplify Johnson County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Arkansas. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Johnson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.